PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Department of Forestry says all of its fire districts, which encompass a total of about 16 million acres, are officially in wildfire season.
Oregon Public Broadcasting reports heavy rainfall stalled the start of the season for parts of the state. But with drier, hotter conditions happening or forecast statewide, fire officials are urging Oregonians to take steps to prevent fires.
A Department of Forestry spokesperson says the official start of fire season means people can expect restrictions such as campfire bans where fire danger is high.
The latest fire season outlook from the National Interagency Fire Center shows the highest fire risk in Central and Southern Oregon as well as Southeast Oregon for July.
The following are tips from the Department of Forestry to help prevent wildfires.
- Make sure your campfire is cool to the touch before going to sleep or leaving your site. Don’t forget to Drown, Stir, Repeat.
- Go back and check on your debris burn site to make sure nothing reignites due to the heat.
- Don’t park your car over dried grass and make sure it is regularly maintained in order to reduce the risk of sparks.
- Don’t flick a cigarette onto the ground. It may be just enough to start a grass fire.
- Check local restrictions and fire danger levels.
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